Trail Blazers-Nuggets Preview

By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTOPosted Dec 28 2010 2:45PM

The Denver Nuggets got an idea of what life would be like without Carmelo Anthony.

It wasn't pleasant.

Anthony will be a game-time decision for the Nuggets, who will try to avoid their longest losing streak in almost four years when they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night.

Anthony missed the last three games following the death of his sister last week and wasn't present for Tuesday's morning practice. Despite being outscored by an average of only 6.7 points, Denver (16-13)lost all three without the three-time All-Star, marking its longest losing streak of the season.

Anthony, who leads the Nuggets with 24.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, had been averaging 30.3 points and 10.0 boards over his last four games before joining his family.

The Nuggets, who haven't dropped four in a row since Feb. 14-24, 2007, were outscored 25-7 over the final 8:11 to fall 95-89 to Philadelphia on Sunday.

"We've played three really close games, we haven't won," coach George Karl said. "There's not a flow to the rhythm of the players you can play because of Melo not being here."

Anthony's return would provide a major boost, especially against Portland (16-15) at the Pepsi Center. Anthony is averaging 28.8 points in 13 career home games - 12 wins - against the Trail Blazers. He scored 18 points with eight rebounds in an 86-83 loss at Portland on Nov. 18.

"He makes a difference in any game," said Chauncey Billups, who averaged 24.7 points during Anthony's three-game absence. "First through the fourth quarter, he makes a big difference, but he's definitely big in those type of situations."

The Nuggets have won 19 of the last 21 home meetings versus Portland, including four in a row.

Denver will be without Al Harrington, who is expected to miss the next two games with a dislocated right thumb.

Portland had dropped 11 of 13 away from home before beating Utah 96-91 on Monday. The Trail Blazers outplayed the Jazz in the paint, outscoring them 40-32 while holding a 41-31 rebounding advantage.

Another big effort from LaMarcus Aldridge could help Portland win at Denver for the first time since Dec. 16, 2007.

Aldridge scored 26 points, pulled down seven boards and blocked two shots Monday. He leads the team with 19.2 points per game and his 8.5 rebounds are second to Marcus Camby's 10.9.

Camby's status is unclear for this contest after he left Monday's victory in the third quarter with a sprained ankle. The center had 12 rebounds with four points and three blocks versus Utah.

He's totaled 17 points, 22 rebounds and five blocked shots in Portland's last two meetings with the Nuggets, the team for which he played from 2002-08.

Copyright 2010 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited

Billups helps Nuggets end 3-game skid

Posted Dec 29 2010 1:08AM

DENVER (AP) Building a hefty cushion, the Denver Nuggets didn't have to worry about another fourth-quarter breakdown.

Chauncey Billups scored 18 points and the short-handed Nuggets took a 20-point lead into the fourth quarter en route to a 95-77 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night.

Denver snapped a season-high, three-game losing streak, including Sunday's loss to Philadelphia in which the Nuggets blew a fourth-quarter lead at home for the first time in 58 regular-season games.

Nuggets coach George Karl was confident enough in the Nuggets' advantage that he rested most of his starters during the fourth, giving them a break in advance of Wednesday night's game at Minnesota.

"It was great to be able to get a little rest in the fourth and let the bench come in and close it out," Billups said. "It was some much-needed rest for the starters. But guys continued to play hard and continued to do the things we had done the first three quarters and that's exactly what we needed them to do."

J.R. Smith and Nene added 17 points apiece for the Nuggets, who were without forward Carmelo Anthony for a fourth consecutive game following the death of his sister. The Nuggets said in a statement that Anthony is expected to rejoin the team on Thursday.

Anthony left the team to be with his family after the death last week of Michelle Anthony, 38. Her funeral was held on Monday.

Karl said he leaned on his veteran corps against the Trail Blazers, singling out Billups, Nene, Kenyon Martin, who had 10 points on 5-for-5 shooting, and Chris Andersen, who had a season-high 12 rebounds.

"I thought they felt the urgency of the win, that we had to get a win," Karl said, noting the Nuggets hadn't lost four in a row since February 2007. "Defensively, we were sound and solid all night long. Without Melo, we couldn't have any letups like we've been having."

LaMarcus Aldridge had 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who lost their fifth straight at the Pepsi Center while being held to a season low in scoring by a Denver opponent. The previous low also was by Portland in an 86-83 victory over the Nuggets at the Rose Garden on Nov. 18.

The Nuggets also were missing forward Al Harrington, who was expected to be sidelined for at least two games after dislocating his right thumb in Sunday's loss to Philadelphia.

Nicolas Batum had 14 points and Rudy Fernandez added 11 for Portland.

The Trail Blazers were without center Marcus Camby, who sprained his right ankle during the third quarter of Monday night's 96-91 win at Utah.

"We just never really got going," said Aldridge, who also had a career-high seven blocks. "It was just one of those nights where it was tough for us to get in a good a rhythm. It's a tough back-to-back. No excuses, but I think last night took a lot to win in Utah, which a lot of teams don't ever do. We just tried to use what we had left to try to get this win today and it wasn't enough."

The Nuggets led 48-41 at halftime, scoring five points in the final 1.8 seconds of the second quarter on a 3-pointer by Smith and, following the inbounds, a steal and a layup by Arron Afflalo, who finished with 15 points.

"Crazy. That was a big little stretch for us," Billups said. "It gave us a little bit of a cushion to come out in the third quarter and try to open it up a little bit."

The Nuggets opened the third quarter with a 19-8 run that carried Denver to a 67-49 lead with 5:28 left in the period. By the start of the fourth, the Nuggets stretched their lead to 78-58 on the way to their biggest win since a 22-point victory against Utah in the season opener.

NOTES: Afflalo is the only member of the Nuggets to have started all 30 games this season. ... Aldridge had his 13th double-double of the season. ... Rudy Fernandez had 11 points for the Trail Blazers, scoring in double figures for the fifth time in six games. ... The Nuggets have gone 304 consecutive regular season games without losing four in a row, the longest such streak in the NBA.

Copyright 2010 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited

Blazers-Nuggets notebook

By Michael Kelly, for NBA.comPosted Wednesday December 29, 2010 12:26AM

THE FACTS: Chauncey Billups scored 18 points and all five Denver starters scored in double figures in the Nuggets' 95-77 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday to end the Nuggets' three-game skid. It was Denver's first win in four games without star Carmelo Anthony, who is away from the team following the death of his sister.

QUOTABLE: "Losing two in a row is rough. Three is unheard of, so we definitely couldn't lose four in a row. -- Denver's Kenyon Martin.

THE STAT: Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge had 18 points and 13 rebounds. He finished three blocks shy of a triple-double.

TURNING POINT: The Nuggets were ahead by two when J.R. Smith hit a 3-pointer with 1.8 seconds left in the first half. Arron Afflalo stole the ensuing inbounds pass and hit a layup before the horn to give Denver a 48-41 lead at the break. Portland never got closer the rest of the way.

QUOTABLE II: "I thought it was a psychological hit for them. They were staying with us, they were doing some good things and all of a sudden they were down seven going into halftime." -- Nuggets coach George Karl, on the five-point flurry before half.

HOT: Martin has played limited minutes since returning from offseason knee surgery last week, and Tuesday's game was his best. He logged just 16 minutes but hit all five of his shots and played solid defense post defense.

NOT: Portland's Dante Cunningham was only 3-for-9 for six points in getting the start for the injured Marcus Camby.

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: Billups tied his season high in assist with nine and had his fourth straight strong game overall. He is averaging 23 points in that stretch.

GOOD MOVE: Armed with a 20-point lead after three quarters and a game in Minnesota on Wednesday, Karl sat Billups, Nene and Martin for the entire fourth quarter.